Sample job interview questions

Help improve your performance and reduce your anxiety by preparing for typical job interview questions, listed below. Listen carefully to the questions asked and plan to point out relevant sections of your resume in your response. Any follow-up questions asked by the interviewers are very important and are either indications of their areas of interest or items where they need additional clarification.

Remember that while most job interviews are employer driven, it is a two-way conversation — since both parties are trying to determine whether you are a good fit for the company or organization.

Questions about you:

Tell me about yourself.
What are your greatest strengths / weaknesses?
What leadership roles have you held?

Questions about your education:

Describe your most rewarding college experience.
What led you to choose industrial & systems engineering?
Which areas of study were you most interested in?

Questions about your work experience:

Which companies have you worked for?
What 2 or 3 accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction?
Describe a project where you were able to get some things implemented.

Questions about your work preferences & values:

Do you prefer to work by yourself, or with others?
What factors are the most important for you in a job?
What type of managers have you enjoyed working for the most?

Questions about this position / company:

Why are you interested in this company / this position?
What can you contribute to this job / position?
How will you evaluate whether this job is a fit for you?

Questions about your future:

What are your future career plans?
How does this job fit into your future plans?
Do you plan to attend graduate school soon?

Behavioral questions:

Discuss a major conflict, and how you handled it?
What motivates you to do your best work?
Describe a situation where you influenced a person or group of people.